Applications closed 30 June 2024.
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), in partnership with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Materials Processing Institute, are offering a three-month Fellowship to engineers who have completed a degree at undergraduate Masters level or above in a discipline related to chemical or process engineering, or have equivalent industry experience. There is one funded Fellowship available.
This Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to gain real-world experience of how research evidence is communicated to decision makers. The successful applicant will be based in the UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most Fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics. Work may include:
Fellows are encouraged to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including Select committees, MPs and Peers, All-Party Parliamentary Groups and a range of other parliamentary activities.
The Fellowship can be carried out full-time for three months or part-time over a longer period. The Fellow may be based on the Parliamentary Estate in London, may be working remotely from home, or a combination of the two. If you are successful in your application, we will discuss the hours and location of the Fellowship with you.
Successful applicants will be expected to start their fellowship between January 2025 and May 2025. The exact start date is to be agreed between the applicant, POST, and (if relevant) the applicant’s EngD or PhD supervisor.
Further information about POST is available on our website.
The Ashok Kumar Fellowship is open to engineers who have recently completed a degree at undergraduate Masters level or above in a discipline related to chemical or process engineering, or have equivalent industry experience. Candidates may have studied chemical engineering, process engineering, materials science, applied chemistry or a related discipline. This could include conducting a research project on a related topic. We will also accept applications from PhD and EngD students conducting research in a related field.
Students in the final year of their undergraduate Masters may apply, provided that they have completed their degree by the time they take up the Fellowship. If you have recently graduated, you must have completed your studies within the past year (running up to the application deadline).
If you are uncertain whether you meet these criteria, please contact us before applying.
POST is strictly non-partisan and needs to maintain high standards of impartiality. Candidates who are already in employment and have their employer’s permission to take time out for the Fellowship should consider whether there might be any potential conflicts of interest, and are strongly advised to contact POST to discuss this before making an application.
POST (and UK Parliament more widely) is committed to increasing diversity and to maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome and encourage applications from underrepresented groups.
Successful candidates will be required to complete pre-employment checks. This includes security vetting to Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level. You should be aware that applicants normally need to have lived in the UK for 3 out of the last 5 years to be eligible for security clearance. More information about National Security Vetting is available on the UK Parliament website. All successful candidates are required to pass these checks before an offer can be confirmed.
Candidates must also be eligible to work in the UK. Some international students may have working restrictions as part of their visa that will require undertaking the Fellowship part-time. We will discuss this with all successful applicants on a case-by-case basis.
It is important that you download and read the application pack before applying, as it contains more details about the nature of the work, application process, and assessment criteria.
Download the application guidance
Download the sample briefing template
Please email your two-page briefing and completed approval form to Charlotte Wessels at ashok@icheme.org before 23:59 on 30th June 2024. Interviews will be held on Monday 19th August 2023.
IChemE and the Materials Processing Institute will give the successful applicants a £7,922.50 stipend to cover their three months at POST. To ensure the accessibility and diversity of the scheme, additional funding may be available for expenses (for example childcare costs) that would otherwise prevent the preferred candidate from taking up the fellowship. More details can be found in the .
Recruiting for Fellowships will continue as normal. Interviews will take place remotely. We have the capacity to ensure that all work can be carried out remotely, but regular office working may be possible by the time the Fellowship commences.
If you have a question that is not answered in the application pack or our frequently asked questions page, please contact Charlotte Wessels at IChemE with any queries about the application process:
Charlotte Wessels
Learned Society Officer
Institution of Chemical Engineers
Phone: 01788 534 412
Email: ashok@icheme.org
Queries about the Fellowship should be directed to Simon Brawley at POST:
Dr Simon Brawley
Head of Physical Sciences and Digital
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Phone: +44 (0)207 219 2293
Email: brawleys@parliament.uk
Image: Westminster by Hernán Piñera, used under CC BY-SA 2.0
Applications are open for a round of the Nuffield Foundation POST Fellowship scheme. Open to any PhD students in a natural science or social science field who are undertaking or have recently finished their PhD studies. Apply by 23:59 on 20 October 2024.
Applications close on 2 October 2024.
Applications closed 17 July 2024.
